1. What is your current main character’s name (or names, if you play multiple games)? Explain how you chose the name.

Karic. This name is an accident. A friend of mine told me of a MUD which I tested and created a dwarf called Karoc. I thought that this was a good (rock)solid dwarven name. I deleted him, because the game didn’t catch me back then and re-created a dwarf a couple of month later, but it was late and I typed Karic instead of Karoc. So the name is just a typo ;)

I got used to the name and started to like it more and more.

2. What was the name of your very first character in an MMO? Explain how you chose that name.

Do MUDs count as MMO? Then it would be Karoc as stated above.

If it’s just graphical than it’s *thinks hard* either Karic or Marogrimm in WoW. Karic is the name of my Priest and Marogrimm was a Hunter. I’m not sure which one is older. I took Karic, because I like the name and other people knew me by that name. Marogrimm is just a name I thought would fit to a dwarf, no special history to it.

3. Have you kept a specific name through various games, or do you tend to change your naming habits based on the individual game?

I have a set of names which I like to use, e.g. Karic, Wahagrimm, Nathrach, but I adapt them to the game. So there will be no human, pirate, superhero, etc.. with the name Karic. There will also be no variation of Karic so that the name fits to the world.

4. Do you ever reserve names, planning to use them for characters that you might play later? If so, what are they and why do you hold on to them?

Short answer.. No. I don’t reserve names.

5. Of the three common archetypes in MMOs — tank, healer, DPS — which is your current main character?

Healer. I started (Pen&Paper, MUD,..) as a Warrior type, so tank, but now I always start with a healer and make tank and dps alts. Healer is and will always be the main. I just like the teamplay and decisions which are necessary as a healer. Though WAR currently undermines this by high efficiency of AoE-stuff.

6. What archetype was your very first character in an MMO? Why did you choose it?

Again… Is a MUD an MMO? (I tend to count it as an MMO, but I’m not sure if this is common sense).. In the MUD Karic was a kind of Warrior. I like the plate-wearing, axe-wielding dwarves. Gimme’ Ale and turn me towards the enemy-frenzy-attitude.

Graphical? Marogrimm was a Hunter, so RDPS. I like to differentiate there, because it’s a different feeling playing ranged rather than melee DPS. I like support-kind of chars and such chars as hunters (or better Engineers in WAR) are quiet fun in that role. When roling dps-chars I tend to start with Ranged careers and role melee only if I’m bored.

7. Are you usually attracted to one archetype over another, or do you play them equally? Why?

Healers always catch my eye. Therefore they are the first option when I test a new game. I like the teamplay and dedication (read: frustration-tolerance) it takes to be a healer. You care about your team and not only about a dps-meter. Same goes for tank, therefore I tend to make rather fast a tank-alt. Shortly followed by dps-chars, which I play if I don’t want to care for anything (suicide-missions! ;) ) or which is rather painless if I have to leave a warband/group.

8. What is your favorite feature from an MMO you no longer play?

I really liked the 40-man (sorry for not being political correct, but atm I don’t know a better naming for this) raids in WoW. Felt quiet relaxed but needed a good amount of concentration.. It was imo a good mix. 25-raids never catched me.

9. Is there an MMO that you would play if it was free? Which and why?

Probably EVE Online. I tested and liked it, but thought that they charge too much. Didn’t feel right in terms of time-played/money-invested ratio. It seems like a vast universe with capitalistic sharks swimming there. No moral just rule of the ones with greatest power. So different to our world ..especially the now socialistic USA. *cough* Sorry, but I couldn’t resist ;)

10. How do you measure the success of a character in an MMO (total kills, titles accumulated, wealth, rare items collected, level reached, etc.)?

Hum.. No objective scale there.

In terms of my own chars: Have I seen end-game content and how do I compete against others (with better equipment)? Am I able to adapt to the end-game content or stress-situations? That are total subjective measures and in no way static, at least I hope that I master all the chars I get to the end-game. ;) Success means also that I have fun playing that char. No Ranking or equipment can be a substitute or measure for fun, which is the reason I play this games.